Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
FRENCH LICK – By the close of 2024, two houses could be constructed in the new Klondike workforce housing development in French Lick.
Earlier this month, work began on constructing the first houses that will be built by the French Lick Resort to expand housing in Orange County.
Getting to this point has taken considerable time, planning and collaboration between private and public entities.
The French Lick Resort, the town of French Lick, and its Redevelopment Commission, in partnership with the Orange County Economic Development Partnership, worked to develop the neighborhood of 27 single-family homes for residents who live and work in Orange County.
The land was already owned by the Resort, but because it was undeveloped, all of the necessary infrastructure had to be built.
READI funds were used to construct roadways, sidewalks and install drinking water, stormwater and wastewater infrastructure. READI committed $1.75 million and the French Lick Redevelopment Commission $1 million.
The public-private partnership has been an essential part of workforce housing efforts in Orange County. The Cook Group, which is the parent company of the Resort, the town of West Baden and the OCEDP teamed up on the Resort’s first Orange County workforce housing project in West Baden Springs, where 12 homes have been built on Abbeydell Pike.
Klondike sits atop a ridge just off Ind. 56. Chuck Franz, CEO of the French Lick Resort, said the first homes to be built are on the southern end of the property, which is connected to Hillside Drive.
“We will work on five or six at a time,” Franz said. “We feel pretty confident we’re going to have a home, possibly two done this year.”
The Resort’s construction team will do most of the build with contractors used for specialties such as plumbing. Because it’s workforce housing with an emphasis on affordability, Franz said homes will be priced at about $180,000.
“Why it’s such a great thing to be starting Klondike is it took the town of French Lick, the Redevelopment Commission and a local company like the Resort to get to this point. Everything has to come together with everyone understanding the goal to make it happen,” Franz said.
The homes on Abbeydell Pike and Klondike are the first new local housing developments in decades.
“OCEDP is excited to continue to be a partner in the efforts to increase workforce housing available in Orange County,” said Skylar Whiteman, executive director of OCEDP.
For construction updates, residents can follow OCEDP on Facebook.
Cook Group has also built workforce housing in Owen County and continues to look at other communities. Franz said Cook Group is looking at locations in Paoli and Orleans.
West Baden Lofts
Additional housing in West Baden Springs will be available later this year. West Baden Lofts, 942 Main St., will offer 44 two-bedroom and three-bedroom units.
West Baden Lofts will provide affordable housing with units reserved for households making 30-60% of the area median income (AMI).
Amenities include a free bikeshare program, free WiFi in common areas and individual units, fitness center, community room, an indoor play area for children, community raised garden beds, a playground, in-unit laundry and walk-in closets.